Electrolytic diaphragm.



H. A. WAGNER.

ELECTROLYTIC DIAPHRAGM.

5.221.101.1210 FILED my a, 1912.

1,77,444. Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Svwewtou HERMAN A. WAGNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROLYTIC DIAPHRAGM.

LWWAAd.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Nov. 41, 595.3.

Application filed May s, 1912. Serial No. 694,893.

a To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. WAGNER, a subject of the King of Great Britain,'residing at New York; in the county of New York and State of New'York, have invented new and useful lmll iidvements' in Electrolytic Diaphragms, of which the following is a sp cification.

This invention relates to diaphragms for electrolytic cells and the method of making same and which consists in the use-andintroduction of mercury into the diaphragm by certain new and novel methods producing a cheapand serviceable article.

I methods.

The diaphragm is necessarily porous and is composed of such substances as pumice stone, charcoal, manganese dioxid or similar porous'substances which are cheap but easily pulverized'or granulated and molded into the desired shape. These substances are also capable of retaining an element .or elements that easily combine with sodium, such as for instance, mercury in a minute state of division. Diaphragms of these substances also may be composed of material for example manganese dioXid as above stated, either alone or in combination, capable of afi'ording the necessary oxygen for electrolytic action and may also contain an agent or agents capable of absorbing hydrogen, such as palladium blaclt or other equivalent substances. Electrolysis of various solutions for example sodium chlorid causes the evolution of hydrogen, and this will be either absorbed by the palladium or will be oxidized by the manganese dioxid or other oxidizing agents.

In producing these diaphragms the preferred method is as follows 1-Manganese dio'xid or any similar substance is powdered or granulated to the desired degree, and then is treated with a solution of a mercuric salt, such as mercuric bichlorid, the resulting mass being well mixed and the solvent, which may. be either Water or alcohol. is evaporated leaving a dry mixture. .The mercury salt in the mass is then reduced to metallic mercury by any of the well'known If mercuric chlorid has been used in the mass, the formic aldehyde method can be used to great advantage. In this case the mercuric chlorid is boiled preferably in the presence of sufiicient ammonia to render the solution alkaline,

c m 0! this patent ma be obtained and with a small amount for five cents each, by addressing Waxh1ngt0n, D. C.

of formaldehyde.

This reduces the chlorid to metallic mercury. After thisv reduction metallic mercury Will be found finely disseminated throughout the porous mass and the mixture maybe molded and pressed into any desired shape or form for diaphragms and placed, for instance, between two closely fitting porous clay plates for use in any suitable electrolytic cell.

The accompanying cal section of an electrolytic cell provided with a diaphragm as contemplated by the a present invention.

In said drawing A and A indicate the two porous walls which may be, for example, of burned clay, and B indicates the filling between these two plates.

G indicates the jar or receptacle, 1) is the anode, and E is the cathode.

drawing shows a verti-.

The NaGl solution in the cathode compartment is eventually converted into caustic soda, while. tree chlorin is evolved at the anode.

VVhatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electrolytic cell, a diaphragm comprising a porous material, metallic mercury in a finely divided state, and manganese dioxid. :2. A diaphragm comprising a porous material, in combination with metallic mercury '31 a finely divided state contained therein, a finely divided metal of the palladium group, and an oxidizing agent. 3. A diaphragm comprising a molded plate of granulated porous material, containing metallic mercury, palladium black, and an oxidizing agent. 1

a. A diaphragm comprising a molded. granulated porous material, in combination with finely divided metallic'mercury, a hydrogen absorbing agent. and an oxidizing agent. 5. A diaphragm consisting of manganese dioxid, in combination with metallic mercury in a finely divided state, and a hydrogen absorbing metal in a finely divided state. In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' HERMAN A. WAGNER.v Witnesses: GEO. EBmxn,

J. ApDonaeAN.

the Commissioner of intents. 

